Peer review

The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) works toward improving guidance pertaining to quality assurance processes and peer review for physicians. MSV works to help simplify and promote the advancement of interoffice peer review among physicians, which enhances the delivery of patient care. These efforts were kicked off in 2004 after the Virginia General Assembly amended and reenacted §8.01-581.17 of the Code of Virginia to expand the scope of privileged communications to include non-hospital based quality assurance or peer review committees. Traditionally, the privilege had only been reserved for hospital-based peer review activities.

In 2011, MSV successfully advocated for significant changes to the quality and peer review statute. The changes clarify that medical records and factual statements about an incident (incident report) are discoverable and are not privileged. All remaining documents provided to or originating in the quality or peer review process are privileged and not discoverable. For example, a root cause analysis, an expert witness report, and reports of interviews by risk managers will be privileged and not discoverable.